Earth Day Explorations

Today is Earth day. I’m not a fan of pushy environmentalists or the trendy “going green” thing, though I do value our planet and its many natural resources. I do believe we should take care of the planet, though I also believe that its resources are intended for use. (Otherwise what’s the point of having a “resource” in the first place?) Trees make great houses, plus they can be continually planted, so I don’t have to feel bad about living in a house made of wood. But I digress…

This is a picture of Earth taken in 1972 from the Apollo 17 spacecraft. Photo by NASA, public domain.

Earth Day Explorations

For Earth day today we are NOT focusing on hyper-environmentalism. Nope. Instead we are exploring this great planet and the miracles within it. Try this chain of projects to celebrate Earth day:

The climate of the earth varies depending upon location. Read this and then make a global climate map with the four basic climates we experience on the planet.

Gravity is what keeps us on this planet of ours. Compare gravity in space and on the earth, and do this experiment.

Life thrives on our planet because of our atmosphere. The conditions must be perfect for life to exist, and exist it does! Just look at the huge variety of life we have–animals, plants, people, all the way down to bacteria…the variety is quite astounding! Make this backpack plant press and begin your own plant collection.

Now go for a walk outside and just admire and take in the beautiful planet that is OUR EARTH!

Make this ocean in a bottle.

How to make a back pack plant press for collections.

Learn all about rocks. There’s also a worksheet here to print and complete.

Print and color this climate zone map.

CJ is examining a mushroom that is growing in the woods. Back in the day he would be called a naturalist. Today he might be an ecologist.

Learn about the chemistry of water, one of the things that makes Earth such a nice place.

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Author: Layers of Learning

We are two sisters and homeschool moms who created a family-style, hands-on and engaging curriculum for history, geography, science, and the arts. We sell fantastic unit studies that will transform your homeschool.